Poetry and Art at the Rail Park

Phase 1 of the Rail Park isn’t just home to plants and pathways. It’s also a canvas for some beautiful site-specific public art.

Dawn Chorus, by Brent Wahl and Laynie Browne was commissioned specifically for the Rail Park by the City of Philadelphia’s Percent for Art Program of the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy.

The piece has two complementary elements:

A sculpture made of a repurposed utility pole and cast aluminum birds

Poetry excerpts in thirteen languages engraved in paver stones, carefully selected to celebrate communication, rail lines, and the city as a meeting place.

Altogether, Dawn Chorus is designed to spark conversation and connect the ground with the sky, using imagery of birds, threads, and transmission.